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Abstract
This qualitative study explored how White youth understand structural racism on an abstract and personalized level and the process of developing these understandings. Structural racism encompasses both institutional racism and the broader effects of racism embedded within social structures. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 16 White youth in seventh or eighth grade in a suburban school. Grounded theory qualitative analysis indicated that developing structural racism understanding for White youth involved a process of (a) developing an initial understanding of the existence and meaning of structural racism, (b) reflecting on this awareness independently and with others, (c) developing emotional connections to these issues (sympathy), (d) developing perspective taking skills and empathy, and (e) engaging and struggling with one’s identity as a White person. Results also provided support for the importance of parental racial socialization practices and multicultural antibias education in the process of developing structural racism understanding for White youth.
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Author Biographies
Catharine R. B. Thomann completed her PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Massachusetts Boston and is a licensed clinical psychologist and Clinical Director at the La Rabida Chicago Child Trauma Center. She specializes in the assessment and treatment of underserved children exposed to chronic trauma and abuse, with a focus on social justice and how racism can shape children’s responses to and recovery from exposure to trauma.
Karen L. Suyemoto is a professor of Psychology and Asian American Studies and the director of the Transnational Cultural and Community Studies Masters program at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Her teaching and research focus on fostering awareness and advocacy for resisting racism through understanding the effects of race and racism; exploring the complexity of relative and ascribed power and privilege; and examining how cultural responsiveness and racial social justice can be developed through and integrated into education, training, research, and practice. Dr. Suyemoto is a Past President of the national Asian American Psychological Association [AAPA] and a 2013 White House Champion of Change: Asian American Pacific Islander Women.
